Apple TV+ & Ridley Scott’s New Crime Series Debuts With Strong Rotten Tomatoes Score Ahead Of Release – Screen Rant

Ridley Scott is a visionary director known for his striking and meticulously crafted films across numerous genres. While he’s widely recognized for sci-fi spectacles like Alien and Blade Runner, and historical epics like Gladiator, he’s had a notable action-packed dip into cinematic crime. Scott’s crime dramas often focus on tense power struggles, moral dilemmas, and the high-stakes world of illegal enterprises. His 2007 film American Gangster was nominated for two Oscars for its gripping biographical drama of Frank Lucas, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.The award-winning director also helmed The Counselor, a neo-noir crime thriller written by Cormac McCarthy, which explored the consequences of greed in the Mexican drug trade. Black Rain brought Scott’s stylish visuals to a Yakuza crime story set in Japan, while Body of Lies followed high-octane espionage in the Middle East with a tense, politically charged thriller. Across these stories, Ridley Scott’s movies have stood out for their slick cinematography, complex characters, and unflinching portrayal of crime’s brutal realities. The Scott-produced crime thriller Dope Thief has debuted with an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score ahead of its official release. Starring Academy Award nominee Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) and Wagner Moura (Narcos), the eight-episode miniseries follows two Philadelphia conmen who pose as DEA agents to rob drug dealers. Their small-time grift takes a deadly turn when they unknowingly target a major cartel operation, launching them into a desperate fight for survival. Dope Thief is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on March 15.With 14 reviews and counting, the premiere season of Dope Thief has secured a hefty 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling strong early buzz for the series. The score may fluctuate as more reviews are added. Based on Dennis Tafoya’s 2009 novel of the same name, the gritty crime drama falls under the action-packed vision of screenwriter Peter Craig (The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick). The cast of Dope Thief also features Marin Ireland, Kate Mulgrew, Nesta Cooper, Amir Arison, and Golden Globe winner Ving Rhames.Early reviews have praised the performances of Henry and Moura, with their natural rapport driving much of the crime drama’s appeal. In a review for Dope Thief, ScreenRant’s Nadir Samara wrote, “From the opening moment when they reveal the hustle to the earth-shattering end of season one, these two actors bring their A-game,” giving the series a score of 6 out of 10. Samara also pointed out that the show’s comedic flourishes may owe much to Henry’s production credit, who was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2016 for his leading role in the highly acclaimed FX comedy-drama Atlanta.From comedies including Ted Lasso and Mythic Quest to dramas including Severance, there are many great TV shows available to binge-watch on Apple TV+.However, Dope Thief is not without its faults, particularly in the execution of its writing. “Craig was not so lucky,” Samara noted, referring to showrunner Peter Craig’s inability to fully establish a strong tonal blueprint, despite his successful work on films like Ben Affleck’s award-nominated The Town. Nonetheless, Henry and Moura’s performance as Ray and Manny, longtime friends locked in this intense cat-and-mouse game, appears to be just enough of a reason to tune in.Dope Thief has all the makings of a standout crime thriller with strong lead performances, and an experienced creative team under Scott’s direction. The chemistry between Henry and Moura is undeniable, which is of no surprise considering their outstanding lead performances in Atlanta and Narcos respectively. However, the lack of a clear theme in the storyline seems to hinder its durability in the crime drama genre, but as an intense and entertaining ride, Dope Thief appears to be well worth the watch.With Dope Thief marking another ambitious crime drama for Apple TV+, the streamer continues to expand its lineup of critically acclaimed thrillers. One of its most successful crime series is Slow Horses, an espionage drama adapted from Mick Herron’s Slough House novels. Debuting in 2022, the show follows a group of disgraced MI5 agents relegated to a department for failures, led by the sharp yet abrasive Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). Slow Horses remains a flagship series for Apple TV+, having been renewed for a fifth season with a sixth already confirmed.AppleTV+ Crime DramaRT Critic ScoreRT Audience ScoreSlow Horses (season 1)95%88%Bad Monkey (season 1)93%81%Criminal Record (season 1)90%63%Black Bird98%95%Dope Thief (season 1)88%N/AIn 2024, Apple TV+ added two more crime thrillers to its slate, including the darkly comedic Bad Monkey and the tense detective drama Criminal Record. Based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel, Bad Monkey stars Vince Vaughn as a disgraced former Miami detective who stumbles upon a bizarre criminal conspiracy. Created by Bill Lawrence, Apple TV+ has already confirmed Bad Monkey season 2 after earning a strong 93% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Starring award-winner Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo, Criminal Record was also renewed for season 2 in August 2024, after its debut earned a 90% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.Though it aired as a limited series, Black Bird remains one of Apple TV+’s most acclaimed crime dramas. Based on James Keene’s 2010 memoir, the series starred Kingsman’s Taron Egerton as Keene, a convict who goes on an undercover prison mission to extract a confession from a suspected serial killer (Paul Walter Hauser). With a 98% RT score, the true story of Black Bird rivals the critical success of Slow Horses. While it won’t return, Egerton has since led the platform’s Tetris biopic, with co-star Hauser appearing in The Afterparty season 2.Source: Rotten TomatoesSuccess!Your comment has not been savedDope Thief follows two lifelong friends from Philadelphia who impersonate DEA agents to commit a robbery, inadvertently stumbling upon a major narcotics corridor. The seemingly simple heist escalates into a critical situation, threatening their lives and unravelling their friendship against the backdrop of the East Coast drug trade.We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.Your comment has not been savedThis thread is open for discussion.Be the first to post your thoughts.Episode 2 of Apple TV+’s Dope Thief left viewers off with a lot of questions and hanging plot threads waiting to be unfolded later in the show.One Piece’s Elbaph arc is finally headed into a chaotic narrative with chapter #1142. Here is when chapter #1143 will follow this chaos.Both Quicksilver and Fourth Wing have risen in popularity since their initial release, but it has long been debated which of the two is best. Susan Duffy becomes Jack Reacher’s love interest in Reacher season 3, and while she differs from season 1’s Roscoe, something isn’t quite lining up.Wolverine has faced countless enemies who don’t stand a chance, but when fighting the Hulk, the adamantium-clawed hero only has 1 way to win.While many of these characters are still fresh to the team, these are some of the most powerful and mightiest heroes the Avengers have ever seen.Almost throughout its runtime, The Electric State features a wide range of original and familiar songs that perfectly complement its action and drama.

Source: https://screenrant.com/dope-thief-show-rotten-tomatoes-score/